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fy  li-s^ft/-,  .V 
'T  * .  ♦.  .  ,  •‘7 


No.  2. 

State  of  Illinois,  Executive  Department, 
Springfield,  November  3,  1871. 

His  Excellency  U.  S.  Grant, 

t 

President  of  ilie  UnUtd  States: 

Sir;  I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  to  you  a  printed  slip  cut  from  the  “Chicago  Jour* 
nal,”  a  highly  respectable  newspaper,  published  in  Chicago,  and  respectfully  ask  your 
attention  to  its  contents. 

My  apology^for  troubling  your  Excellency  with  a  paper  of  the  character  of  that  in¬ 
closed  is,  that  it  is  stated  therein  that  “  four  companies  of  the  Eighth  United  States 
Infantry  have  been  ordered  from  New  York  to  Chicago,  and  will  arrive  there  to-morrow 
(to  day),  subject  to  the  call  of  the  authorities,”  and  that  the  reasons  for  ordering  troops 
to  Chicago  are,  that  “  the  large  supplies  the  Relief  Society  will  have  in  store  during 
the  winter  were  not  deemed  safe ;  besides,  threatened  strikes  in  some  quarters  indicated 
that  laborers,  willing  to  work  might  not  be  allowed  to  do  so,”  and  that  an  application, 
stating  these  facts,  was  signed  by  the  officers  of  the  Relief  Society,  and  other  citizens, 
presented  to  G  e’neral  Sheridan,  and  by  him  approved  and  referred  to  the  Secretary  of' 
War. 

In  addition  to  this,  rumors  in  the  form  of  telegraphic  dispatches  from  Washington 
and  Chicago  have  reached  me,  that  troops  were  ordered  to  Chicago  for  purposes  con¬ 
nected  with  the  safety  of  property  and  the  preservation  of  order  in  the  city,  but  no 
information  of  the  existence  of  the  dangers  alluded  to  have  reached  me  from  any  quarter 
whatever. 

I  cheerfully  concede  that  it  is  for  the  President  to  designate  the  stations  of  the  troops 
composing  the  army,  and  that  he  is  under  no  obligations,  founded  upon  the  constitu¬ 
tion  or  the  laws,  or  upon  the  rules  of  official  courtesy,  to  communicate  his  orders,  or  the 
reasons  that  influence  him  in  making  them,  to  the  Governor  of  any  of  the  States,  unless 
the  orders  in  question,  or  the  presence  of  the  troops,  are  intended  in  some  way  to  affect 
or  influence  the  internal  affairs  of  the  particular  State  to  which  the  troops  are  sent. 
In  the  latter  case,  it  will  readily  occur  to  you  that  the  Governor  of  the  State,  whose 
duty  it  is  to  enforce  the  laws,  is  deeply  concerned  for  the  troops,  and  the  orders  under 
which  they  are  to  act  may  operate  to  diminish,  or  greatly  increase  the  difficulties  of  his 
official  position.  I  am  happy  in  the  consciousness  that  the  authorities  of  the  State  of 
Illinois  are  abundantly  able  to  protect  every  interest  of  the  people  that  depends  upon  its 
internal  peace  and  good  order,  and  am  unwilling  to  believe  that  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  acting  upon  information  of  a  contrary  character,  communicated  by  pri¬ 
vate  citizens  to  an  officer  of  the  army,  has  ordered  any  portion  of  the  army  into  this 
State,  to  be  subject  to  the  call  of  the  authorities,  either  to  protect  the  store-houses  of 
the  Relief  Committee,  or  to  interfere  with  the  possible,  though  not  probable  “  strikes” 
of  laborers. 

I,  therefore,  deem  it  due  to  the  importance  of  the  subject,  to  frankly  inquire  of  your 
Excellency  whether  the  troops  ordered  to  Chicago  are  intended  or  instructed  to  obey 
the  call  of  any  authorities  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  or  the  city  of  Chicago,  or  in  any  way 
whatever  to  assume  the  protection  either  of  property  or  the  preservation  of  order  in 
that  city? 

I  have  the  honor  to  be. 

With  great  respect,  etc., 

JOHN  M.  PALMER, 


4 


No.  3. 

EXECUTIVE  MAXSIOK, 

Washington,  D.  C.,  November  9,  1871. 

His  Excellency  J.  M.  Palmer, 

Governor  of  lllmoia; 

Sir  :  I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  third  instant,  inquiring  the  nature  of  the 
orders,  etc.,  under  which  four  companies  of  United  States  troops  have  been  ordered  to  < 
the  city  of  Chicago,  and  asserting  your  ability,  as  Executive  officer  of  the  State,  to  fur¬ 
nish  all  the  protection  asked  in  the  appeal  of  the  citizens  of  Chicago  from  these  troops. 

In  reply,  I  inclose  you  a  copy  of  the  appeal,  of  General  Sheridan’s  remarks  thereon, 

•of  the  orders  given  in  sending  the  troops,  and  of  all  correspondence  between  General 
Sheridan  and  the  authorities  here,  since  the  great  fire,  which  laid  so  much  of  the  wealth  of 
Chicago  in  ashes. 

I  will  only  add,  further,  that  no  thought  here  even  contemplated  distrust  of  the  State 
authorities  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  or  lack  of  ability  on  their  part  to  do  all  that  was 
necessary,  or  expected  of  them,  for  the  maintenance  of  law  and  order  within  the  limits 
of  the  State. 

The  only  thing  thought  of  was  how  to  benefit  a  people  stricken  by  a  calamity  greater 
than  had  ever  befallen  a  community  of  the  same  number  before  in  this  country.  The 
aid  was  of  a  like  nature  with  that  given  in  any  emergency  requiring  immediate  action. 

No  reflections  were  contemplated  or  thought  of,  affecting  the  integrity  or  ability  of 
any  State  officer  or  city  official,  within  the  limits  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  to  perform  his 

■4  whole  duty.  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

With  great  respect. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 


I.  (Proclamation.) 


The  preservation  of  the  good  order  and  peace  of  the  city  is  hereby  entrusted  to  Lieu¬ 
tenant  General  P.  H.  Sheridan,  United  States  Army. 

The  police  will  act  in  conjunction  with  the  Lieutenant  General,  in  the  preservation  o£ 
the  peace  and  quiet  of  the  city,  and  the  Superintendent  of  Police  will  consult  with  him 
to  that  end — the  intent  hereof  being  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the  city  without  inter¬ 
fering  with  the  functions  of  the  city  government. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  eleventh  day  of  October,  1871. 


Official  copy:  James  B.  Fry, 

Ass’i  Ad  ft  OerCl. 


R.  B.  MASON,  Mayor. 


II. 

Headquarters  Military  Div.  of  the  Missouri, 
Chicago,  III.,  October  11,  1871. 

Gen.  F.  T.  Sherman  : 

Dear  Sir — With  the  approbation  of  the  Mayor  of  this  city,  Lieutenant-General  Sheri¬ 
dan  directs  that  you  organize  a  regiment  of  infantry,  to  consist  of  ten  (10)  companies; 
each  company  to  consist  of  one  (1)  Captain,  one  (1)  First  and  one  (1)  Second  Lieuten¬ 
ant,  and  sixty  (60)  enlisted  men,  to  serve  as  guards  for  the  protection  of  the  remaining 
portion  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  for  the  period  of  twenty  (20)  days. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  B.  FRY,  A.  A.  G. 

Official  copy  :  James  B.  Fry, 

AmH  Adft  GenH. 


III.  (Telegram.) 


V 


Chicago,  Ills.,  Oet.  11,  1871. 
Gen.  E.  D.  Townsend,  ,, 

Adjutant  General  : 

There  was  some  excitement  here  yesterday  and  last  evening,  but  is  now  quieting 
down.  Some  of  the  troops  from  Leavenworth  and  Omaha  are  coming  in.  I  have  taken 
the  necessary  steps  to  meet  the  condition  of  affairs  here. 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN. 

Lieutenant  General. 


IV.  (Telegram.) 


Chicago,  Ills.,  Oct.  12,  1871. 


To  Gen.  E.  D.  Townsend, 

Adjutant  General ; 

As  there  may  be  some  trouble  here  when  the  banks  have  to  settle  with  their  depositors, 
and  to  keep  down  excitement,  I  have  deemed  it  best  to  ask  General  Halleck  for  four  (4) 
companies  of  infantry,  which  he  has  notified  me  he  has  in  readiness  at  Louisville. 

'  P.  H.  SHERIDAN, 


Lieutenant  General. 


V. 

Chicago,  Ills.,  Oct.  22,  1871. 

Liedt.  Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan,  U.  S.  A  : 

Permit  me  to  tender  you  the  thanks  of  the  city  of  Chicago  and  its  whole  people,  for 
the  very  efficient  aid  which  you  have  rendered  in  protecting  the  lives  and  property  of  the 
citizens,  and  in  the  preservation  of  the  general  peace  and  good  order  of  the  community. 

I  would  like  your  opinion  as  to  whether  there  is  any  longer  a  necessity  for  the  con:- 
tinued  aid  of  the  military  in  that  behalf. 

R.  B.  MASON, 

Mayor.. 

Head  Quarters  Military  Div’n  of  the  Missouri, 

Chicago,  October  26,  1871. 

Official  copy: 

James  B.  Fry," 

AsaH  AdjH  GerCl. 


VI. 

Head  Quarters  Military  Div’n  of  the  Mo.,  f 
Chicago,  October  28,  1871. 

To  His  Honor  R.  B.  Mason, 

Mayor  of  the  City  of  Chicago  : 

Sir — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  kind  note  of  the  date  of 
yesterday,  and  in  reply,  I  beg  leave  to  report  a  good  condition  of  affairs  in  the  city. 

If  your  Honor  deem  it  best,  I  will  disband  the  volunteer  organization  of  military  on 
duty  since  the  fire,  and  will  send  the  troops  of  the  regular  army  to  their  homes,  and  will 
consider  myself  relieved  from  the  responsibility  of  your  proclamation  of  the  eleventh 
instant. 


6 


With  my  sincere  thanks  for  your  kindness  and  courtesy  in  my  intercourse  with 

you, 

I  am,  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN, 


Official  copy : 

James  B.  Fry, 

Am' I  Adj't  Oen'l. 


Lieutenant  Oeneral. 


vn. 


MAYOR’S  OFnCE, 

City  of  Chicago,  October  23,  1871. 

Lieut,  Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan,  U.  S.  A. 

Upon  consultation  with  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners,  I  am  satisfied  that  the 
continuance  of  the  efficient  aid  in  the  preservation  of  order  in  this  city,  which  has  been 
rendered  by  the  forces  under  your  command  in  ’pursuance  of  my  proclamation,  is  no 
longer  required. 

I  will  therefore  fix  the  hour  of  6  P.  M.,  of  this  day,  as  the  hour  at  which  the  aid 
requested  of  you  shall  cease. 

Allow  me  again  to  tender  you  the  assurance  of  my  high  appreciation  of  the  great  and 
efficient  service  which  you  have  rendered  in  the  preservation  of  order,  and  the  protection 
of  property  in  this  city,  and  to  again  thank  you,  in  the  name  of  the  city  of  Chicago  and 
its  citizens,  therefor. 

I  am,  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

R.  B.  MASON, 

Mayor. 

Official  copy  : 

James  B.  Fry, 

Ass't  Adj't  Gen'l. 


Yin. 

Head  Quarters  Mil.  Div,  of  the  Missouri, 
Chicago,  III.,  October  24,  1871. 

General  Orders,  No.  5. 

The  First  Regiment  Chicago  Volunteers,  raised  with  the  approbation  of  the  Mayor, 
and  in  pursuance  of  orders  dated  October  11,  1871,  from  these  Headquarters,  is  hereby 
honorably  mustered  out  of  service  and  discharged. 

This  regiment  was  constituted  as  follows  :  Colonel  Frank  T.  Sherman,  First  Chi¬ 
cago  Volunteers,  commanding. 

Major  C.  H.  Dyer,  Adjutant. 

Major  Charles  T.  Scammon,  Aide-de-Camp. 

Lieut.-Colonel  H.  Osterman,  First  Regiment  National  Guards,  Illinois  State  Militia. 
Major  G.  A.  Bender,  First  Regiment  National  Guards,  Illinois  State  Militia. 

Captain  Fischer’s  Company  (A),  First  Regiment  National  Guards,  Ills.  State  Militia. 
Captain  Pasch’s  Company  (D),  First  Regiment  National  Guards,  Illinois  State  Militia. 
Captain  Cronas’  Company  (G),  First  Regiaient  National  Guards,  Illinois  State  Militia. 


7 


•Captain  Paul’s  Company  (H),  First  Regiment  National  Guards,  Illiuois  State  Militia. 

Captain  Kelter’s  Company  (I),  First  Regiment  National  Guards,  Illinois  State  Militia. 

Captain  Rogers’  Company  (B),  First  Chicago  Volunteers,  Lieut.  Adams  commanding. 

Captain  Merrill’s  Company  (C),  First  Chicago  Volunteers. 

Captain  Baker’s  Company  (K),  First  Chicago  Volunteers,  recruited  by  Capt.  Whit¬ 
tlesey. 

Captain  Colson’s  Company,  University  Cadets. 

Captain  Croley’s  Company,  Montgomery  Light  Guards. 

Captain  McCarthey’s  Company,  Mulligan  Zouaves. 

Captain  Ryan’s  Company,  Sheridan  Guards. 

Captain  Suiter’s  Company,  Chicago  Cadets. 

Captain  Williams’  Company,  Hannibal  Zouaves. 

The  Norwegian  Battalion  of  National  Guards,  Major  Alstrup  commanding.  Ole  Ben- 
dixen,  adjutant. 

Captain  Paulsen’s  Company,  (A.) 

Captain  Eck’s  Company,  (B.) 

Captain  Johnson’s  Company,  (C.) 

Captain  Bentzen’s  Company,  (D.) 

The  troops  were  suddenly  called  from  civil  pursuits  to  aid  Lieutenant-General  Sheri¬ 
dan  in  preserving  peace  and  good  order,  and  in  protecting  the  property  in  the  unburned 
portion  of  the  city — a  duty  intrusted  to  him  during  the  emergency  resulting  from  the 
late  fire.  They  came  forward  promptly  and  cheerfully,  at  a  time  rendered  critical  by  the 
unparalleled  disaster  which  visited  the  city  on  the  8th  and  9th  instants,  a  calamity  pro¬ 
ducing  general  distrust  and  distress,  leaving  a  large  part  of  the  city  in  smouldering 
ruins,  a  large  part  in  darkness  by  the  destruction  of  the  gas  works,  and  the  whole  of  it 
without  water,  and  this  with  a  fire  department  crippled  and  exhausted  by  the  struggle  it 
had  gone  through. 

They  have  performed  the  arduous  and  delicate  duties  falling  to  them  under  these  cir¬ 
cumstances  with  marked  industry,  fidelity  and  intelligence.  The  Lieutenant-General 
thanks  officers  and  men  of  the  command,  for  the  services  rendered,  and  commends 
them  to  the  kind  consideration  of  their  fellow  citizens;  and  he  makes  special  acknowl¬ 
edgment  of  the  valuable  aid  received  from  their  commander.  General  Frank  T.  Sher¬ 
man — distinguished  upon  the  battle  fields  of  the  late  war — as  well  as  from  his  official 
staff.  Major  C.  H.  Dyer,  Adjutant,  and  Major  Charles  T.  Scammon,  Aid-de-Camp. 

By  command  of  Lieutenant-General  Sheridan.  JAMES  B.  FRY, 

AssH  Adft  Gen. 


IX. 

Head  Quarters  Military  Div’n  op  the  Missouri, 
Chicago,  III.,  October  24,  1871. 

Special  Orders,  No.  76. 

The  companies  of  the  4th,  5th,  6th,  9th  and  16th  United  States  infantry,  on  duty  in 
this  city,  are  hereby  relieved,  and  will  proceed  to  their  respective  stations,  as  follows : 

Companies  “F,”  “H”  and  “K,”  of  the  4th,  and  “E”  of  the  16th,  to  Louisville,  Ky. 
Companies  “A,”  “H”  and  “K,”  of  the  5th,  to  Fort  Leavenworth. 

Company  “I,”  of  the  6th,  to  Fort  Hays. 

Companies  ‘'A”  and  “K,”  of  the  9th,  to  Omaha. 


The  Qaartermaster’s  Department  will  famish  the  necessary  transportation. 

By  command  of  Lieutenant-General  Sheridan. 

Official :  JAMES  B.  FRY,  AuU  Adft  Gen. 


X. 

Head  Quarters  Military  Div.  op  the  Missouri, 
Chicago,  October  25,  1871. 

To  the  AdjiUanJt- General  of  the  Army^  Woihivgton^  D.  C.  : 

Sir:  The  disorganized  condition  of  affairs  in  this  city,  produced  by  and  immediately 
following  the  late  fire,  induced  the  city  authorities  to  ask  for  assistance  from  the  mili¬ 
tary  forces,  as  shown  by  the  Mayor’s  proclamation  of  October  11,  1871.  [Copy  here¬ 
with,  marked  A.]  To  protect  the  public  interests  intrusted  to  me  by  the  Mayor’s  proc¬ 
lamation,!  called  to  this  city  companies  A  and  K  of  the  9th  infantry,  from  Omaha;  com¬ 
panies  A,  H  and  K  of  the  5th  infantry,  from  Fort  Leavenworth ;  company  I,  6th  infantry, 
from  Fort  Scott;  and  accepted  the  kind  offer  of  Major-General  Halleck  to  send  to  me 
companies  F,  H  and  K  of  the  4th,  and  company  E  of  the  16th  infantry,  from  Kentucky. 
I  also,  with  the  approbation  of  the  Mayor,  called  into  the  service  of  the  city  of  Chicago,, 
a  regiment  of  volunteers  for  twenty  days.  [Copy  of  this  call  inclosed  herewith, 
marked  B.]  These  troops,  both  regulars  and  volunteers,  were  actively  engaged  during, 
their  service  here  in  protecting  the  treasure  in  the  burnt  district,  guarding  the  unburnt, 
district  from  disorders  and  danger  by  further  fires,  and  in  protecting  the  store-houses,, 
depots  and  sub-depots  of  supplies,  established  for  the  relief  of  sufferers  from  the  fire. 
These  duties  were  terminated  on  the  23d  inst.,  as  shown  by  letters  herewith,  (marked  C,. 
D  and  E,)  and  on  the  24th  inst.  the  regulars  started  to  their  respective  stations,  and  the 
volunteers  were  discharged,  as  shown  by  special  orders  No.  76,  and  general  orders  No.  5 
from  these  headquarters.  [Copies  herewith.]  It  is  proper  to  mention  that  these  volun¬ 
teers  were  not  taken  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  no  orders,  agreements, 
or  promises  were  made  giving  them  any  claims  against  the  United  States  for  services, 
rendered. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN, 

lAeutert ant- General  U.  S.  A.,  Commawling. 


(The  above  communication  indorsed  as  follows :) 

Head  Quarters  of  the  Army, 
Washington,  D.  C.,  October  31,  1871. 

Respectfully  Submitted  to  the  Secretary  of  War; 

The  extraordinary  circumstances  attending  the  great  fire  in  Chicago,  made  it  emi¬ 
nently  proper  that  General  Sheridan  should  exercise  the  influence,  authority  and  power 
he  did  on  the  universal  appeal  of  a  ruined  and  distressed  people,  backed  by  their 
civil  agents  who  were  powerless  for  good.  The  very  mo-ment  that  the  civil  authorities 
felt  able  to  resume  their  functions.  General  Sheridan  ceased  to  exercise  authority,  and. 
h  e  United  States  troops  returned  to  their  respective  stations. 

General  Sheridan’s  course  is  fully  approved. 

Seen  by  the  Secretary  of  War; 

John  Potts,  C.  C.  W.  D. 


W.  T.  SHERMAN,  General. 


9 


\ 


XL 

CHICAGO  RELIEF  AND  AID  SOCIETY, 
Standard  Hall,  Cor.  Michigan  Av.  and  Thirteenth  St.,. 
Chicago,  Octobir  28,  1871, 

Henry  W.  King,  President; 

Wirt  Dexter,  Chairman  Ex.  Com.; 

Geo.  M.  Pullman,  Treas. 


Lieutenant-Generai.  P.  H.  Sheridan,  Commanding  Department  of  the  Mmouri: 

j  General  :  The  undersigned  respectfully  and  urgently  request  that  you  will  cause  four 

companies  of  U.  S.  Infantry  to  be  stationed  at  or  near  this  city,  until  it  shall  appear 
that  there  is  no  danger  of  attack,  by  disorderly  persons,  upon  the  depots  of  the  Relief 
and  Aid  Society,  or  other  riotous  proceedings,  for  which  the  recent  appalling  calamity 
may  have  paved  the  way.  We  believe  that  the  presence  of  a  small  military  force  in  this 
vicinity  would,  at  the  same  time,  deter  any  evil-disposed  persons  from  organizing  a 
breach  of  the  peace,  and  reassure  the  public  mind  in  an  extraordinary  degree. 

Thanking  you  for  the  great  services  you  have  already  rendered  to  this  stricken  com^ 
munity, 


We  are.  General,  your  obedient  servants, 

Wirt  Dexter, 

Chair.  Ex.  Com.  Relief  and  Aid  Soc, 
Joseph  Medill, 

'  Editor  Tribune. 

W.  F.  COOLBAUGH, 

President  Union  National  Bank. 

H.  K.  Eames, 

President  Commercial  National  Bank. 


F.  Irving  Pearce, 

President  Michigan  National  Bank. 
C.  H.  Beck’with  &  Sons, 

140  Michigan  Avenue. 

J.  W.  Preston, 

President  Chicago  Board  of  Trade. 
Chas.  Randolph, 

Secretary  Chicago  Board  of  Trade. 
E.  Hengerland, 

Illinois  River  Elevator. 

Horace  White, 

Chicago  Tribune. 

Charles  L.  Wilson, 

Chicago  Journal. 


XII. 

Head  Quarterns  Military  Div.  of  the  Missouri, 
Chicago,  Oct.  29,  1871. 

Brigadier  General  E.  D.  Townsend,  Adft-Gen.  U  8.  A.,  Washington,  D.  C.: 

General:  Almost  before  the  great  conflagration  in  this  city  had  exhausted  itself,  I 
saw  the  necessity  of  having  a  few  companies  of  regular  troops  here  for  the  preservation 


10 


of  the  public  peace  and  the  protection  of  property  and  treasure.  Their  services  were 
invaluable,  but  as  soon  as  the  excitement  subsided,  the  old  city  government  desired  to 
again  take  charge,  and  of  course  I  sent  the  troops  home,  although  it  had  been  my  inten¬ 
tion  to  keep  four  companies  here  during  the  winter. 

The  result  has  been  that  the  troops  were  no  sooner  gone,  than  the  turbulent  spirit 
commenced  to  manifest  itself,  and  seems  to  be  increasing.  I  have,  therefore,  been  bo-  < 

licited,  by  Mr.  Joseph  Medill,  the  in-coming  new  mayor,  and  the  prominent  citizens,  to 
again  bring  to  the  city,  for  the  winter,  four  (4)  companies  of  infantry.  I  am  satisfied 
of  the  necessity  of  their  presence  here,  and  ask  the  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War 
to  bring  them.  They  can  be  spared  from  General  Pope’s  command.  Please  answer  by 
telegraph.  I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN, 

Lieutenant-  Gerteral  Coramaruling. 


XIII.  (Telegram.) 

Head  Quarters  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  Oct.  31,  18*71. 

To  Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan,  Chicago: 

Four  companies  of  the  8th  Infantry  are  ordered  to  Chicago  to  act  as  police,  under 
your  letter  of  the  29th.  W.  T.  SHERMAN,  General. 


XIV.  (Telegram.) 

Head  Quarters  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  Oct.  31,  18*71. 

To  Gen.  George  G.  Meade,  Philadelphia: 

Order  four  (4)  companies  of  8th  Infantry,  with  field  officer,  to  Chicago,  to  report  to 
General  Sheridan  in  person.  W.  T.  SHERMAN,  General. 


Head  Quarters  Military  Div.  of  the  Atlantic, 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Nov.  1,  1871. 

Spbclal'Order,  No.  63. 

The  telegraphic  order  of  the  31st  ultimo,  directing  the  Commanding  General  Depart- 
ment'of  the  East  to  send  four  companies  of  the  8th  Regiment  of  Infantry,  with  field 
officer,  to’Chicago,  to  report  in  person  to  Lt.  Gen.  Sheridan,  commanding  Military  Divis¬ 
ion  of  the  Missouri,  is  hereby  confirmed. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Meade:  R.  C.  DRUM,  A.  A.  G. 


XV. 

State  of  Illinois,  Executive  Department,  f 

Springfield,  Novemher  20,  1871. 

His  Excellency  U.  S.  Grant, 

President  United  States : 

Sir; — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  9th  of  Novem, 
ber,  in__  reply  to  mine  of  the  3d  of  the  same  month,  and  also  the  copies  of  papers  for¬ 
warded  me  by  your  direction. 


SP' 


11 


I  have  read  your  Excellency’s  letter,  and  examined  the  papers  received  with  great 
attention,  and  while  I  am  not  insensible  of  the  kindness  that  prompts  you  to  disclaim 
all  distrust  of  the  authorities  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  or  of  their  ability  to  do  all  that 
may  be  necessary,  or  expected  of  them  for  the  maintenance  of  law  and  order  within 
I  the  limits  of  the  State,  I  have  been  unable  to  find  anything  in  them  to  justify  the  ex¬ 
traordinary  measure  of  ordering  four  companies  of  United  States  troops  into  this  State 
to  report  to  Lieutenant  General  Sheridan  to  act  as  police  under  his  orders. 

It  seems  to  me  to  be  very  well  settled  as  a  principle  of  American  public  law,  that 
the  duty  of  protecting  persons  and  property,  and  the  preservation  of  public  order  and 
peace  against  the  efforts  of  disorderly  persons,  or  from  local  internal  disturbance,  is  the 
-  peculiar  and  exclusive  duty  of  the  States,  with  which  the  government  of  the  United 
States  has  no  concern,  and  in  which  it  cannot  interfere,  except  upon  the  application  of 
the  Legislature  or  the  Executive  of  the  States,  as  contemplated  by  the  4th  section  of  the 
4th  article  of  the  Constitution,  and  that  any  attempt  by  the  officers  of  the  United  States 
army  to  employ  any  part  of  the  military  forces,  as  proposed  by  the  gentlemen  who  made 
the  application  for  four  companies  of  Infantry  to  be  stationed  at  or  near  Chicago  for  an 
indefinite  period,  and  approved  by  Lieutenant  General  Philip  H.  Sheridan,  in  his  letter 
to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  29th  of  October,  and  by  General  W.  T.  Sherman,  by  his 
telegraphic  communication  to  Lieutenant  General  Sheridan,  of  October  31st,  1871,  must 
be  improper,  because  violative  of  the  Constitution  and  the  laws. 

I  am  not  at  all  forgetful  that  your  Excellency  says  “  that  what  was  done  in  respect 
to  ordering  the  troops  to  Chicago,  was  upon  the  ground  of  emergency,  to  aid  a  people 
who  had  suffered  greatly;”  but,  in  this  view,  it  seems  to  me  that  the  General  command¬ 
ing  the  army  overlooked  the  fact  that  the  disastrous  fire  at  Chicago  did  not  relieve  the 
State  of  Illinois  from  any  of  its  duties,  nor  transfer  any  of  them  to  the  government  of 
the  United  States. 

Emergencies  that  demand  extraordinary  efforts  often  occur  in  the  history  of  govern¬ 
ments,  but  I  do  not  remember  another  instance  in  our  history,  when  it  was  held  that  an 
•event  that  created  a  sudden  demand  upon  the  powers  and  resources  of  a  State,  operated 
to  transfer  any  portion  of  the  duties  of  the  States  to  the  United  States. 

The  great  fire  at  Chicago  ceased  on  the  9th  of  October,  and  the  Executive  of  the  State 
of  Illinois,  under  the  belief  that  the  disaster  created  an  “  emergency  ”  provided  for  by 
constitution  of  the  State,  convened  the  General  Assembly  to  meet  in  session  on  the  13th 
day  of  that  month  to  make  legal  provisions  to  meet  all  the  requirements  of  the  occasion, 
and  on  the  19th  day  of  October  that  department  appropriated  from  the  treasury  an  ade¬ 
quate  sum  to  maintain  a  sufficient  police  force  for  the  protection  of  every  interest  of  the 
people.  The  emergency  was  thus  provided  for  by  the  proper  department  of  the  proper 
government,  in  the  only  way  that  it  could  be  done,  or  can  be  done.  The  State  enlarged 
and  strengthened  its  own  agencies  for  the  enforcement  of  its  own  laws,  to  meet  the  re¬ 
quirements  of  the  new  situation.  The  same  calamity  deprived  the  United  States  of  its 
custom  house,  its  post  office,  its  court  room  and  records,  and  threw  upon  that  govern’ 
inent  the  duty  of  adopting  measures  to  supply  the  loss,  but  it  has  not  yet  occurred  to  the 
authorities  of  the  State  that  the  losses  of  the  United  States,  or  the  interruption  of  its 
business,  has  so  far  changed  the  relations  of  the  Federal  and  State  systems,  as  to  cast 
any  portion  of  the  duty  of  providing  for  a,ny  of  the  wants  of  the  United  States  upon  the 
State  of  Illinois,  and  they  are  as  little  able  to  understand  how  it  is  that  events  that  can¬ 
not  operate  to  enlarge  the  powers  of  the  government  of  the  State,  should  operate  to 
confer  upon  a  Lieutenant-General  of  the  army  the  authority  to  interfere  in  matters  of 
purely  local  State  concern,  or  to  authorize  the  General  commanding  the  army  to  recog- 


12 


nize  and  approve  the  application  of  the  Lieutenant-General,  and  order  four  companies 
of  United  States  Infantry  to  report  to  him  to  discharge  the  mere  civil  duties  of 
“  police.” 

I  do  not,  of  course,  propose  to  discuss  with  your  Excellency  the  question  of  the  rela¬ 
tive  rights  and  powers  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  States,  under  the  Constitution, 
for  I  will  not  anticipate  the  possibility  of  a  difference  of  opinion  upon  the  point  that 
the  duties  of  the  executive  officers  of  the  two  systems  are  defined  so  accurately,  and  are 
kept  so  distinct  by  written  constitutions  and  laws,  that  there  is  no  possibility  of  a  con' 
flict  between  them.  The  duty  of  the  President  is  to  see  that  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  are  enforced,  and  that  of  the  Governor  of  Illinois  is  confined  to  the  enforcement 
of  the  laws  of  the  State.  Neither  obstructs  the  other,  nor  aids  nor  interferes  with  his 
duties.  The  Governor  of  a  State  derives  none  of  his  powers  from  the  United  States, 
nor  are  his  duties  subject,  in  any  respect,  to  the  consent  or  discretion  of  the  President, 
who  can,  in  no  wise,  enlarge,  abridge,  or  interrupt  them,  either  by  assuming  them  him¬ 
self,  or  by  entrusting  them  to  others. 

As  these  opinions  seem  to  me  to  be  incontrovertable,  I  cannot  doubt  that  the  orders  to 
United  States  troops  to  act  as  police,  or  to  otherwise  interfere  in  the  affairs  or  duties  of 
the  State,  or  any  of  its  officers,  were  made  without  reflection,  and  that  the  troops  will  be  at 
once  withdrawn  from  this  State ;  or,  that  the  orders  for  their  government  will  be  so  modi¬ 
fied,  as  to  prohibit  their  employment  as  police,  or  in  any  other  way  to  interfere  with  any 
of  the  duties  and  functions  of  any  of  the  officers  created  under  the  laws  of  this  State. 

The  State  of  Illinois  cannot  accept  their  aid,  or  permit  their  interferance  in  its  affaire, 
without  a  sacrifice  of  the  confidence  of  its  citizens,  nor  without  giving  countenance  to  & 
dangerous  example. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  M.  PALMER. 


XYI. 


EXECLT'IVE  MANSION, 
Washington,  D.  C.,  Nov.  26,  1871. 


Sir: — I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  20th  instant,  and  have  referred  it  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  with  directions  to  inform  General  Sheridan  that  if  the  troops  under 
his  command  have  received  any  orders  which,  in  any  way,  conflict  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Constitution  or  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  he  is  instructed  to  rescind  them. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

U.  S.  GRANT. 

To  His  Excellency,  John  M.  Palmer, 

Governor  of  Illinois,  Springfield,  III. 


In  submitting  these  papers  to  the  General  Assembly,  it  is  not 
improper  for  me  to  say  that  when  the  regular  troops  that  bad 
occupied  Chicage  from  the  11th  to  the  23d  day  of  October,  1871, 
were  ordered  to  their  stations,  and  the  volunteer  force  organized 
by  Lieut.  Gen.  Sheridan  was  disbanded,  I  did  not  believe  it  to 
be  possible  that  any  officer  of  the  U.  S.  Army  could  again  find 
a  pretext  for  intermeddling  in  the  affairs  of  the  State  of  Illinois. 


13 


My  expectation  of  future  exemption  from  military  interference 
was  based  upon  the  belief  that  the  authorities  of  the  State  had 
already  done  enough  for  the  maintenance  of  law,  and  for  the  pro¬ 
tection  of  all  the  interests  of  the  people  of  Chicago,  to  merit 
their  full  confidence,  and  that  the  local  officers  of  the  cit7  were 

■itt!  * 

then  so  alive  to  their  duties,  and  so  confident  in  the  support  of  a. 
powerful  State,  that  no  room  would  be  left  for  external  inter¬ 
vention.  Everything,  indeed,  had  been  done  for  the  aid  and  pro¬ 
tection  of  the  people  of  Chicago  that  was  possible,  and  if  all 
'their  interests  were  not  secure,  it  was  because  the  resources  of 

•  civil  government  were  not  equal  to  their  necessities. 

The  papers  and  correspondence  herewith  transmitted  demon- 
■^strate.  however,  that  I  was  mistaken,  and  that  the  appropriations 
•made  by  the  General  Assembly  for  the  support  of  an  adequate 
police  force  in  Chicago,  the  'energetic  discharge  of  duty  by  the 
police,  and  the  most  orderly  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  people, 
were  alike  unavailing — for,  on  the  Slst  day  of  October,  1871, 
Oeneral  W.  T.  Sherman,  upon  the  application  of  Lieutenant  Gen¬ 
eral  Sheridan,  ordered  troops  to  Chicago  to  act  as  police. 

My  letters  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  of  the  3d  and 
20th  of  November,  will  prove  that  I  have  exerted  myself  to  in¬ 
duce  the  President  to  withdraw  these  troops  from  the  State,  or  to 
prohibit  them  from  interfering  in  its  internal  affairs ;  and  those  of 
the  [President  to  me,  of  date  of  November  9th  and  25th,  will 
show  that  my  efforts  have  been  fruitless,  and  that  the  President 
has  practically  referred  the  whole  subject  to  the  decision  of  the 

•  officer  whose  conduct  is  questioned. 

It  is  manifest  that  the  order  of  the  President,  described  in  his 
letter  of  November  25,  ends  all  discussion,  and  leaves  Lieutenant- 
General  Sheridan  with  four  companies  of  infantry  in  Chicago 
with  discretionary  powers  to  intermeddle  in  affairs  that  are  within 
the  exclusive  and  peculiar  jurisdiction  of  the  State,  and  with 
which  the  President  and  his  military  subordinates  have  no  right¬ 
ful  concern  whatever. 

It  seems  to  me,  from  the  letters  of  the  President,  and  the 
papers  laid  before  the  General  Assembly,  that  General  Sherman 
and  Lieutenant-General  Sheridan  entertain  the  belief  that,  ur-^er 
our  system  of  government,  it  is  a  part  of  the  duty  of  the  officers 
of  the  army  of  the  United  States  to  superintend  the  administra- 
'tion  of  the  local  governments,  and  that  if  they  are  not  satisfied 


3  0112  098435099 


U 


with  the  measure  of  protection  afforded  by  the  States  to  the  per¬ 
sons  and  property  of  their  own  citizens,  the  officers  of  the  army 
have  the  right,  at  their  own  discretion,  to  introduce  a  part  of  the 
army,  and,  through  its  agency,  afford  such  additional  protection 
to  the  people  as  they  may  think  necessary  or  proper,  and  that 
their  right  to  interpose  for  that  purpose  does  not  depend  upon  the 
ability  of  the  States  to  discharge  their  duties. 

There  is  no  other  ground  upon  which  the  conduct  of  Generals 
Sherman  and  Sheridan  can  be  placed.  No  one  will  pretend  that 
the  State  of  Illinois  is  not  able  to  enforce  its  own  laws,  and  pro¬ 
tect  every  person  and  all  the  property  within  its  limits ;  but  Gen¬ 
eral  Sheridan,  in  the  exercise  of  his  superintendence  of  its  affairs, 
was  not  satisfied  with  the  provisions  made  by  the  State  for  the 
safety  of  property,  and  the  control  of  what  he  is  pleased  to  call 
“the  turbulent  element”  in  Chicago,  and  he  therefore  informed 
the  Adjutant  General  that  “  I  am  satisfied  of  the  necessity  of 
their  (four  companies  of  infantry)  presence  here,  and  ask  thel 
authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  bring  them;”  and  General 
Sherman,  acting  upon  the  same  principle,  promptly  informed  him 
by  telegraph  that  “  four  companies  of  the  Eighth  Infantry  are 
ordered  to  Chicago  to  act  as  police,  undeyyour  letter  of  the  29th.” 

The  President,  it  is  true,  in  his  letter  to  me  of  the  9th  of] 
November,  informed^me  “  that  the  only  thing  thought  of  inorder-j 
ing  these  troops  to  Chicago  was  how  to  benefit  a  people  strickenj 
by  a  calamity  greater  than  had  ever  befallen  a  community  of  thej 
same  number  before  in  in  this  country.  The  aid  was  of  a  like! 
nature  with  that  given  on  any  emergency  requiring  immediatel 
action.”  It  is  to  be  remembered  that  Chicago  is  a  part  of  one  ol 
the  most  wealthy  and  powerful  States  of  the  Union,  that  the  StatJ 
Government  is  in  full  vigor,  and  its  laws  everywhere  enforced! 
and  that  its  resources  are  ample  for  the  discharge  of  all  its  duties! 
It  will  surprise  no  one,  then,  that  I  protest  that  no  emergency  haJ 
existed  at  any  time  in  the  history  of  the  State  of  Illinois  for  whiclffl 
it  was  unable  to  provide,  and  nothing  in  the  Constitution  or  thfl 
laws  to  give  the  President  or  his  military  subordinates  the  righM 
to  determine  when  it  is  necessary  or  proper  for  the  authorities  oil 
the  United  States  to  interfere  in  the  internal  affairs  of  the  State8.|jl 

I  also  deny  that  the  officers  of  the  army  have  the  right  to  dej|j 
termine  the  measure  of  the  duties  of  any  civil  officer,  under  an 
circumstances  whatever,  or  that  their  powers  are  increased  b 


